Warner Springs Ranch Hole-by-Hole Pro's Tips

Pick your tees according to your ability. If your handicap is over 10, I would not recommend playing from the black tees.

(Click on thumbnail images to see photos of each hole.)

#01 - Par 5 532/511/469
A good opening par five right out of the box. Don't let the spectators on the patio bother you. Favor the right side of the fairway off the tee particularly for the long hitters. The fairway narrows abruptly with a lateral hazard coming into play on the left and a tall tree that will hinder your approach shot to the green. The cement ditch crossing the fairway rarely has water but it is played as a hazard. Keep your approach shot below the hole for the best opportunity at a birdie.

#02 - Par 4 361/334/303
Short but challenging is the par four second. Like the first hole, a tee shot to the right side of the fairway gives you more options for your shot into the green. Below the hole is a better position on the green as it has a pretty good slope from front to back to front. A hole location just over the front bunker is one of the favorite spots for the cup cutter.

#03 - Par 4 359/350/314
The huge trees on the left wreak havoc with many golfers'. Keep it right off the tee and your frustration level will stay at a minimum. Again, not a very long hole but, what it lacks in distance, makes up for in challenge. The front portion of the green slopes quite a bit and can be very fast for putts above the hole.

#04 - Par 4 440/375/327
One of the wider fairways on the golf course, there are a couple of bunkers on the left that can be hard to see depending on the tees you are playing. From the black tees, a grove of trees make this is one of the most difficult tee shots in San Diego County and a long par four to boot. Approach shots to this large green do not play as long as you may think. Most of the time play one club less.

#05 - Par 3 175/143/112
Playing the red or white tees, the par three fifth is a fairly easy hole. The green is narrow but deep. A shot to the right of the green can put you in some trouble. For those of you playing from the blue or black markers, the margin of error decreases greatly. It's like having tunnel vision when you are standing on the back tee box. Tightly framed by large trees and at a distance of 190 yards, this is a challenging hole for the better player.

#06 - Par 5 485/477/431
From the fairway, players cannot see the putting surface on the par five sixth adding to the challenge. The tee shot can really set you up well for a good score on this hole. A shot to the left side of the fairway will give you a better angle into the green which is long from front to back and protected in the front and on the right by a large bunker. Longer hitters can take their tee shot over the tree, which will shorten the hole and increase your birdie opportunities, just be aware of the bunkers beyond the tree.

#07 - Par 3 206/180/148
Wind plays the biggest factor on the par three seventh hole. The prevailing wind is in your face forcing you to add one or more to your club selection. Bail out should be short of the green, left, right or long will make getting up and down difficult to say the least.

#08 - Par 4 421/388/280
The number one handicap hole from the white tees to the black tees. The water located on the right side of the fairway is reachable for the longer hitters. A fairway wood may be a better selection from the tee. Aim at the fountain or even a little bit left of that. There is more room to the left than what it appears. Club selection can vary by one to two clubs depending on the hole location on this large green.

#09 - Par 4 386/372/327
A tee shot to the left side of the fairway is a must on this slightly uphill par four. Shots to the right side of the fairway may be obstructed by trees and not have clear shot to the green. A front hole location is the most difficult on the ninth, a putt from above the hole may not stay on the green.

#10 - Par 4 386/367/310
The ditch crossing the fairway is very reachable on the par four tenth. Many longer hitters attempt to go over the ditch, some successfully. The putting green on the tenth has been called "diabolical". If the hole location in the middle section of the green, take your three putt and run. Left of the hole and you will roll off the green. Right of the hole and it may come back to you.

#11 - Par 5 496/473/432
Excellent birdie opportunity on the par five eleventh. Not the widest fairway on the golf course but even if you miss the fairway, you should have an unobstructed second shot. The water on the right is not in play off the tee but it will certainly narrow the landing area for those players laying up short of the green. As the wind typically blows from left to right, a tee shot to the right side of the fairway will give you a better approach to this relatively flat green.

#12 - Par 3 184/169/149
Another par three that plays directly into the prevailing wind. Usually, one extra club will do the trick. Play for the middle of the green if the hole location is to the right and you will save yourself a big headache or at least a big number.

#13 - Par 4 319/291/256
The shortest par four, the most narrow fairway and smallest green on the golf course. Number thirteen may have the highest average score for a par four at Warner Springs Ranch. Add a little bit of wind and it is loads of fun. No need to pull out the driver here, accuracy is at a premium. If you miss the fairway or miss the green, it's basically jail. One of the most difficult short par fours that you will find. Four is a great score!

#14 - Par 4 391/366/317
Although it looks fairly open from the tee, the contours of the fairway provide the players that keep it left a better approach to the green. A direct line towards the flag will put you in the rough and on top of a mound giving you an uneven lie. Once again, above the flag will test your putting skills. If you miss the green on your approach, short or left will give you the best opportunity to get up and down.

#15 - Par 3 230/183/153
Quite a test for a par 3. Because of the elevated tees, the hole doesn't play as long as the scorecard indicates so club selection plays a big factor. The prevailing wind comes in from the players right helping most golfers hold their line by reducing the left to right ball flight. The green is not real wide but measures 33 paces deep.

#16 - Par 4 404/386/327
Good driving hole with a narrow fairway and one of the longer par fours on the course. Holes like this can make it white knuckle time for many golfers. If the flag is in the back left corner, a tee shot in the right side of the fairway will allow you the best opportunity to get to the hole without bringing the large greenside bunker into play. No matter what the hole location is, finding the fairway is the priority here.

#17 - Par 4 418/397/322
The water on the right is reachable for the longer hitters narrowing this fairway a bit. A tee shot favoring the left side takes the water and the trees out of play and give you the best opening to the green. The left side of this green is more undulating but you will often find the flagstick on that side. Approach shots to the right give you the best look for any of the hole locations on this green.

#18 - Par 5 508/490/445
The finishing hole at Warner Springs can make many players lick their chops when they reach the tee box to this slightly uphill par five. A well struck tee shot and this hole can relinquish a lot of birdies and the occasional eagle. If you make five from a good position off the tee, to many it will feel like a bogey. From the fairway, the putting surface is not visible however, this green is one of the largest on the golf course. It is flat and very receptive to long irons and fairway woods. A lot of matches can be won or lost on this hole.